About a year ago, I wrote about Alessi's new tableware by David Chipperfield, Tonale. David Chipperfield is an English architect and Tonale is his homage to Giorgio Morandi's paintings. Giorgio was an Italian Cubist painter whose washed tones and simple shapes paved the way for the Minimalism that followed Cubism.
When you look at Morandi's Still Life above, it's pretty clear where Chipperfield drew his inspiration. Cubism was all about the exploration of shape and volume and how different objects' volumes interacted. Morandi washed everything in monotones and his still lifes have an easy grace to them. Chipperfield's Tonale for Alessi has that same easy grace.
The Tonale collection debuted in Milan last year and Alessi just unveiled Chipperfield's companion flatware for Tonale. It's a collection Chipperfield calls Santiago.
Good flatware is on my short list of things that make for a well-lived life. Good sheets, good pots and pans, good hand tools, good socks and a handful of other things round out my list. By good I mean quality and that rarely means cheap. In my book, good stuff is stuff you buy once and use for the rest of your life. This Santiago collection by Chipperfield for Alessi fits squarely into my list.
Santiago comes in two finishes; solid polished stainless and stainless with a gray handle. Though a full collection of serving pieces and everything else from hors d'oeuvres forks to dessert spoons is part of this Santiago collection, the proof is in the basics.
The fork.
The knife.
The spoon.
I love the idea of a three-tine fork and I really love how the knife appears to be all blade. It's wonderful stuff. What do you think? too modern? Too expensive? Or just right?
Look over the whole Santiago collection on Alessi's website.
Alessi has an ad on the right side of this page. Thank you Alessi. I have now fully disclosed any assumed but nonexistent conflicts of interest. I've been a fan of Alessi for as long as I can remember. That was true before they became an advertiser and will be true long after they leave.